64% of people do not know how they will vote on EU treaty
Just 26% of respondents say they will vote Yes, an increase of 1% since the previous poll in November. The number of people against the treaty has fallen, with only 10% of respondents saying they will vote No, compared with 13% last time round.
The vast majority of people, however, remain in the undecided camp, with 64% saying they don’t know how they will vote, an increase of 2% since November.
The findings of the Irish Times/TNS MRBI poll suggest the majority of the public remain in the dark about the treaty and its contents.
That would reflect the lack of debate that has taken place on the treaty so far.
No date has yet been set for the referendum, and in the absence of a timeframe, debate has been slow to ignite. Elements of the No camp have already launched their campaigns, among them the Libertas group.
However, it will likely be some weeks before the Yes campaign, which will be led by the Government, is fully up-and-running.
The Yes campaign believes the reform treaty will help the EU function more effectively and democratically and better serve its citizens.
The No campaign, by contrast, believes the treaty would lead to a less accountable and more militarised Europe.
Ireland is the only member state holding a referendum on the treaty.
Speaking at a lunch with reporters yesterday, European Affairs Minister Dick Roche said he believed there would be only one referendum, whatever the result. Following the defeat of the Nice Treaty referendum in 2001, the Government held a second referendum in 2002, in which the treaty was passed.
But Mr Roche said he did not believe a second referendum was even “a remote possibility” this time, adding that the reform treaty would simply fall if the Irish electorate voted no.
Meanwhile, Mr Roche criticised FG leader Enda Kenny for claiming that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was “not fit” to be the president of the EU. It has been speculated that Mr Ahern could become EU president when he steps down as Taoiseach. Mr Kenny made his remarks during a visit to Brussels.
